If you're sure that you'll stick with stereo listening and you don't listen to pipe organs, I'd get the M80s, you'll need nothing else. I've started to build my system slowly over a year ago and still didn't buy a sub. The only thing I am missing is the rumble from the LFE in movies, although if I play the movie at high volume I still feel my floor rumbling, they're able to produce that much bass. I had the chance to A/B the 60s vs 80s at the Axiom facility. At high volume, they both sound extremely close but at lower to moderate volume, the M80s have the edge IMO. To me, that + the extra bass extension + the bit more detail in the mids was worth the extra $$$.

My god. I didn't want to get talked into M80s, but you sickos just might have done it. Sigh.

Well, thanks for the responses. I have a few more months before I'm ready to make a purchase. I'll probably end up with a starting point of either a pair of M60s or a pair of M80s, and a receiver with the full Audessey stuff. Damn.

See, the problem with that is that as you guys start recommending more and more expensive hardware, the overall cost of the entire system ends up being higher than what I'd anticipated. I could get an Epic 60.350 and the Onkyo 608 for just under $3000. If I start off with M80s and a higher-level reciever I'll be starting out at $2000 or more, with a final cost probably ending up somewhere around $3500-4000. I could certainly absorb the extra cost if I spaced out the purchases over a year or so, but damn.

I just suggested trying out the M22's in your other thread, If you like them but still want to get floorstanders, Axiom pays shipping back for the M22's and you just pay the difference in the upgrade price

I finally took the plunge. I've been toying with the idea of home stereo and theatre for about seven years and I keep coming back to this site. A couple weeks ago I saw that Newegg had the Onkyo TX-NR-818 on sale for $679 (down from $1199) and didn't think twice. I have it up and running with my Samsung 46" LCD, Sony BluRay player, and some oooold Infiniti Entra Point-Five speakers http://www.crutchfield.com/S-maAsg5cbPWz/p_108ENTRA51/Infinity-Entra-Point-Five.html.

Not five minutes ago I placed an order for two Axiom M60 V3s in the real wood Cherry/Chestnut finish, 25' of speaker wire and some dual banana plugs. I can't tell if I'm elated or full of buyer's remorse, but I do know that I'm giddy and can't wait for these to come in. Thanks to everyone in this forums who answered my questions over the years. I'll let you know how everything sounds when I get it installed. I'll almost certainly be back for technical help in getting it all set up and tuned.

Great! I order new equipment and "toys" all the time for my business, but can remember feeling like a kid at Christmas while waiting for my Axioms. I don't know that there was ever another item ordered that I looked forward to more!

There's a running joke around here about "leaving nose prints on the windows" while waiting for delivery, and experiencing mysterious flu-like symptoms causing you to stay home from work a day after delivery!